The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-14

] IKE carolyn Lomax"
''There's many slip" quoted Cosby.
"Fortune has trick of smiling on Darby, l
know; but she's tickle beldame at best,
and may play him false when he least ex-
poets it."
sd take Phirs chances for the prize he's
to draw from her tonight, at all events"
said Hardin. 'The floral bell is swinging
already in the hall Of the Lomax house
ready for his wedding chimes. Ha! speak
ing of the decorations, that reminds me.
Sartini the florist, told me he had just re-
ceived an importation of Italian plants, and
l promised Darby I'd call by and tell him to
send up one of those superb moon-fiowers
for Miss Lomax. Sartini iS "1rtain he has
one that will put out its bltfso Is just about
the time Of the marriage. Darby thinks
that would be a pleasant omen for his
bride"
He returned his paper to the file and at
once took his leave to attend to the commits
| sio7.
A few hours later a brilliant company
was assembled in the parlor of Hon. Paul
LOmax. They had gathered there for the
celebration of the marriage of his daughter
and teiress to Philander Darby. What fate
was there now which might balk the most
sacred plans of the bridegroom's life! Still
fortunes favorite. he had already received
| at the altar, cousecrated by the high priest
Love, her most gracious boon in the con-
/ jugal vows of the woman he adored, and,
! among her bridal guests, his young wife
was moving, the stateliest and loyeliest Of
tb21n all.
IN q pause in the dance ner eyes frankly
rlrt his devouring gaze. He was at her side
ii a moment
'Come with me awhile, can yo1 not, Caro-
lyn!' he eagerly whispered. at is mad
mockery to me, this phantasma agoria of
lights, flowers, and nOdding and bobbing
puppets, forever interposing between you
and me. Surely we may be entitled to a
quarter of an hours emancipation from the
shackles of less convenances."
She smiled and humoring his fancy, pat
her hand within his arm.
"Where will you take me! There are
lights and people everywhere"
He looked down upon her smiling.
"The moons rays only have right to be
where our moon-fower is opening it's bios
sons5. Dunbrek had mad less an artists eye
had he failed to see the peculiar fitness of
that acOve for the sly charms of that lunar
plant"
She moved at his side, roseate and palpi
tant. SO this explained the diplomacy he
had used in inducing the old gardener to
move some of his choicest plants from the
retired alcove to give place to the heavily
foliaged plant sent up from Sartinfs. He
had meant that only the moonbeams should
be there before herself and him to see the
faint pink blossoms open their hearts of
perfume. Much of the conservatory was in
a blaze of light, as the balance of the house
lrrf1 1,xra 4 inn in
introducing himself and bride into the al
cove unseen. In this transverse section,
where the fern mounds ended, they found,
as anticipated, their seclusion invaded only
by the half-light from the outer conserva-
tory and the splendor of the moonlight that
was flooding the new plant. They bent to-
gether over their floral treasure. The bride
uttered little cry of delight.
'.See, Phil, it has five or six blossoms on
it italready and there are other buds opening.
Did you eyer see any thing lovelier!"
eyes" he answered with gravity, "yes,
my Carolyn, have seen something love-
Iier"
She bowed her yelled head lower over the
pretty flowers. A strong arm was passed
about the slender figure.
so, my belovedl' was whispered in her
ear, these blossoms are but insensate
things at best; don't waste your caresses
upon them. am consumed of envy of my
own gift to yOu.''
She was yielding to his touch, expanding
into new beauty as the plant was doing. in
the embrace of the moons rays
Out from the shadows of a fern mound,
to one side of the absorbed lovers, face.
livid, sha-pened, contorted, glanced for
second. The brides veil caught in the
calyx of one of the half-opened buds. The
moon-plant shivered through all its foliage.
One of its stems snapped SHARPLY, and
Carolyn drew back with one of the buds
entangled in the mesh of her veil.
'.Ah, the pity of it!'' she cried, taking the
despoiied bud into her jeweled fingers and
gazing upon it regretfully.
So intent was she looking at the broken
flower, and so intent was he gazing at her
IN her wistful beauty that neither of them
saw what the pair of staring eyes, shad-
owed by the fern fronds, caught glimpse
of-the hideous, many-iegged beast that
had darted forth from the foliage of the
shaken plant. Alert upon one of the broad
leaves it stood until the quivering foliage
settled into stiffness then it crouched, wait
ing.
''Ah! Phil" murmured the BRIDE her
eyes uCNg anu NOlOC NudJ
if we should find our welded happiness to
be no more than this moon flower; lovely to
look upon, but to be broken by the first rough
usage. See! l can not make even this
small bud attach itself again where it may
gather life and beauty anew"
She bent forward, making a pretty pre-
tense of reuniting the plant and it's severed
blossom; but instantly she started back,
making vain effort to suppress the excla-
nation OF pain or terror that sharply broke
the stiffness of the conservatory. Her cry
was shrilly echoed on the instant from the
clump of ferns close by, which, violently
agitated, gave sudden egress to the figure
of man.
It was Bardirelli, late master in music to
Carolyn. 1t was to the side of his former
pupil he now darted. Darby was still
clasping her in his arms and was question
ing her in an agony of apprehension, while
she, nervously agitated, was using her
womanly arts to reassure him.
1t is nothing, Phil-a mere scratch-a
sting. A great spider, think The crea-
ture nipped me and leaped away before
could well see what it was. All Sig. Bardi-
nelli, is it you! o, Phil-what-r
Pale and terrified she lay in the arms of
her husband, who, livid as death, only held
her closely, making no effort to restrain the
italian, who had without ceremony seized
upon the brides hand, upon one finger of
which was appearing faint line of discol-
a